Improvement in stockings for horses



12.) f wILLIAM LEWIS.

Stockingrfor Horses.

No, 121,330l mama IJIICIIzgIIsvI` lwitmsw;

@Wim UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LEWIS, OF ASTORIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND DAVIDTQWAY, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOCKINGS FOR HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,880, dated December12, 1871.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LEWIS, of Asto ria, Long Island City, in thecounty of Queens and State of New York, have invented a certain new andImproved Stocking for Horses, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to elastic perforated stockings or anklets, appliedto the ankles and legs of horses, especially trotting a-nd racinghorses, but to others as well, in fact, to all horses subject to beingput to excessive strains of the muscles of the legs, to support andconiine the muscles, tendons, cords, 'tc., and prevent them fromoverstraining, spraining, and the like; the said stocking or ankletbeing fitted snugly to the ankle-joint and the leg above, as far as maybe preferred, as a kind of re-enforcement of the natural power oftheleg; to be worn when racing, or otherwise required to exert the membersof the legs to any great extent; and it consists in an elasticIndiarubber stocking, molded to iit the leg of a horse; ribbed andre-enforced to prevent sagging and slipping down at the top; perforated,to permit the escape of the perspiration; and made open in front, withlaces or other means of fastening, so as to be easily applied andsecured.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved anklet or stocking, andFig. 2 is a section of the same taken on the line w aof Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a stocking or anklet, of strong elastic vulcanized India rubber, orother suitable substance, shaped suitably to fit the leg from the top ofthe hoof, about half way to the kneejoint, when wrapped around it or inany other preferred way. The said stocking is provided with holes for alacet, B, to draw and secure it more or less snugly, as may be required;or it may have straps with buckles, or be secured by a cord wound aroundit. It is provided with numerous perforations O to allow the mattersexuding from the pores of the skin to pass off, and thus not obstructthe necessary escape of such matters and the natural action of thischaracter. The outer surface of the stocking is provided with severalribs, D, ruiming from the up- .per to the lower end to stiifen itlongitudinally and prevent it from working down at the top, as

it would otherwise do under the violent action of the horse whentrotting or running. It is also desirable to produce extra support tothe tendons of the leg at the point of their attachment above the ankle,and the reenforce pads E are therefore placed on the side of thestocking over said tendons, and extending from the ankle to the top ofthe stocking, as shown. These pads also serve to stiffen the top of thestocking, so th at it will not wrinkle and work down at the top.

I am aware that stockings for horses have heretofore been made ofelastic material, perforated and laced up in front; but I am not awarethat any such stockings have been made with lon gitudinal ribs toprevent sagging at the top, nor with re-enforce pads to protect andstrengthen the tendons from their points of attachment upward, asdescribed.

The said stockings are to be of sufficient strength and consistency toresist the misplacement or throwing out of any of the cords, muscles, orother parts subjected to great tension; also to arrest the turning,over-bending, or over-straining of the ankles or knee-joints, whichsometimes happens, by slipping', stumbling, stepping upon stones or inholes, or the like, all of which the horses are so liable to whenrunning or drawing to the extent of their powers, and thus prevent, inmany cases, the injury that would occur without the use of saidstocking. In general the said stockings will be about the lengthindicated by the drawing; but they may extend the whole length of theleg, if preferred, or any part of it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters 'Patent- 1. In combination with a laced elastichorsestocking, the tendon pads E, extending up the sides of saidstocking from the ankle to the top, substantially as set forth.

2. The stocking A, of soft vulcanized India rubber, molded to iit theankle and leg of a horse, and constructed to lace up in front, and withperforations C, longitudinal ribs D, and tendon pads E, as set forth,and for the purpose described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 21st day ofAugust, 1871.

Witnesses: WILLIAM LEWIS.

GEO. W. MABEE,

DAVID T. WAY. (144.)

